Abstract: A compound bearing consisting of an outer and an inner member movable relative to each other and between which are disposed load carrying annular members. The load carrying annular members comprise a pair of elastomeric rings held between the outer and inner members under compression, and a metallic ring insert disposed between and separating the two elastomeric rings. A narrow clearance is provided between the peripheral surface of the metallic ring insert and the inner surface of the bearing outer member, and between the metallic ring inner surface and the inner member peripheral surface. Normal loads are taken and absorbed by the elastomeric rings, while overloads and shock loads are taken by the metallic ring insert.

Abstract: A helical bearing bushing for use between a cylindrical shaft and an element containing a bore disposed around the shaft, such as a kingpin and steering knuckle assembly, includes a helically wound spring wire as the bearing bushing. The spring wire is helically wound to form a tubular member having interior and exterior surfaces which form the respective bearing surfaces. The tensile force of the helical spring holds arcuate surfaces of adjacent coils in elastic abutment, although lubricant under pressure can elastically separate the coils and pass from one surface to the other. Non abutting portions of the arcuate surfaces form helical lubrication grooves. Either the interior surface or the exterior surface, or both, may be machined flat to provide a better bearing surface.

Abstract: A steering kingpin and knuckle assembly provided with wear take-up by forming the kingpin end portions with a frusto-conical peripheral surface, and providing a bearing bushing having a corresponding frusto-conical internal bearing surface mounted in each steering knuckle yoke bore and pivotally supporting the knuckle relative to the kingpin. Alternatively, the kingpin end portions and the internal surface of the bushing, preferably split bushing, are cylindrical and the bushing external surface is frusto-conical and disposed in a frusto-conical bore in the knuckle yoke. The bushing is pre-loaded in a direction causing engagement of the kingpin end and bushing bearing surfaces, being spring-biased or, in the alternative, by an end cap closing the yoke bore and having an annular position projecting within the bore.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering knuckle and kingpin assembly comprising a kingpin fixedly mounted through the motor vehicle front axle or beam with the end portions of the kingpin projecting above and below the front axle or beam. A wheel spindle knuckle is pivotally mounted relative to the kingpin, the spindle knuckle having an upper yoke having a bore disposed around the kingpin upper end portion and a lower yoke having a bore disposed around the kingpin lower end portion, a bushing being installed in each of the yoke bores. The kingpin end portions have a frusto-conical peripheral surface and the yoke bushings have a cylindrical internal surface such that, under load, the bearing surfaces in engagement and capable of transmitting the load are along the whole length of the bearing surfaces. Alternatively, the kingpin end portions are provided with a peripheral cylindrical surface co-operating with an appropriate frusto-conical internal surface for the bushings.

Abstract: A bearing assembly having bearing surfaces pre-loaded towards each other, the bearing surfaces being originally made in slightly non-conforming geometry and dimensions over the majority of their surface areas in sliding engagement, the areas of the bearing surfaces in engagement being thus less than the total available areas. During use, and through progressive wear-in of the bearing surfaces in engagement, the bearing surface areas in engagement are progressively enlarged with progressive conformity in geometry and dimension, the conforming surface areas being constantly kept in engagement by the elements in the assembly adapted to provide bearing pre-load.

Abstract: A wear indicator for knuckle or swivel joints of the ball and socket type wherein the spherical surfaces in swivelling engagement are urged in bearing engagement by a retainer member accomplishing the double function of holding the ball and the socket in assembly and of applying a pre-load force to the ball to prevent vibration and rattle and to compensate for wear of the bearing surfaces. The wear indicator is in the form of an elongate member attached to the pre-load retainer member at a portion thereof which is progressively movable in the direction of wear of the bearing surfaces of the joint for maintaining the pre-load pressure upon the bearing surfaces.

Abstract: Sealed ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swiveling relative to a socket member. A bearing ring disposed with or without clearance in a housing has a concave spherical surface portion in swiveling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the housing constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate, is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A bearing assembly having bearing surfaces pre-loaded towards each other, the bearing surfaces being originally made in slightly non-conforming geometry and dimensions over the majority of their surface areas in sliding engagement, the areas of the bearing surfaces in engagement being thus less than the total available areas. During use, and through progressive wear-in of the bearing surfaces in engagement, the bearing surface areas in engagement are progressively enlarged with progressive conformity in geometry and dimension, the conforming surface areas being constantly kept in engagement by the elements in the assembly adapted to provide bearing pre-load.

Abstract: Sealed ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swiveling relative to a socket member. A bearing ring disposed with or without clearance in a housing has a concave spherical surface portion in swiveling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the housing constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate, is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having an end flat surface engaged by a resilient retainer cap disposed in the socket member. The retainer cap is elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the spherical bearing surfaces of the socket and ball in mutual swivelling engagement, thus, among others, compensating for wear.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having a recess in which is engaged a biasing insert member made of resilient or elastomeric material placed under compression during assembly of the joint. The joint bearing surfaces are elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the bearing surfaces in mutual engagement and thus preventing play and rattling of the joint and compensating for wear.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint having a ball provided with an integral stud projecting outwardly through an end of the socket, a portion of the peripheral spherical surface of the ball being in swivelling sliding engagement with a corresponding partial spherical bore in the socket, and a generally disk-shaped retainer member holding the ball in assembly in the socket and applying a pre-load bias to the ball urging the bearing spherical surfaces in mutual engagement, the retainer member having an integral or separate spherical recess in swivelling sliding engagement with a portion of the peripheral surface of the ball opposite to the stud. The ball is a full ball or alternatively a partial ball having a substantially hemispherical protuberance of smaller diameter in engagement with the spherical recess in the retainer member.

Abstract: Integrally sealed vibration dampening ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swivelling relative to a socket member. A split metallic or high strength plastic bearing ring disposed with clearance in a shell has a concave spherical surface portion in swivelling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the shell constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. Normal loads are taken by the resilient rings, and overload and shock load are taken by the bearing ring. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having a hemispherical recess engaged by the hemispherical convex surface of a retainer bearing member disposed in or, alternatively, made integral with the socket member. The retainer bearing member or, alternatively, a segment of the socket internal surface engaged with the half-ball peripheral surface is elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the diverse bearing surfaces in mutual contact, thus, among others, compensating for wear. The knuckle or swivel joint assembly of the invention is capable of transmitting substantial loads within a wide range of angular variations between the stud and the shank, or other member, rigidly connected to the socket.

Abstract: A joint assembly having a socket member, a stud member, and restrainer elements constructed and arranged to prevent the socket and stud members from pivoting relative to each other in one plane containing the longitudinal axis of the stud member while permitting the members to pivot in a plane at a right angle to such one plane and containing such axis and permitting the stud member to rotate on such axis with respect to the socket member.

Abstract: A sealed compound bearing consisting of an outer and an inner member movable relative to each other and between which are disposed load carrying annular members. The load carrying annular members comprise a pair of elastomeric rings held between the outer and inner members under compression, and a metallic ring insert disposed between and separating the two elastomeric rings. A narrow clearance is provided between the peripheral surface of the metallic ring insert and the inner surface of the bearing outer member, and between the metallic ring inner surface and the inner member peripheral surface. Normal loads are taken and absorbed by the elastomeric rings, while overloads and shock loads are taken by the metallic ring insert.

Abstract: This invention provides a frictional clamping arrangement for holding the workpiece being cut by a router so as to prevent movement of the cutout portion of the workpiece in the last increment of the cut. The device includes a pressure foot having a clamping member which is forced downwardly against the surface of the workpiece when the cut is nearly completed for holding the cutout portion of the workpiece motionless relative to the worktable so as to prevent its lateral movement during completion of the cut. The clamping member is fixed relative to the spindle during the principal part of the cut, but is released for limited movement relative to the spindle when holding the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively blocking movement of a part of a device employing said apparatus which is particularly useful in preventing the unauthorized firing of a weapon or removal of screw caps or operation of other touch actuated devices. The apparatus typically comprises a magnetically actuable member mounted to a resilient material which material is mounted to the device for selectively disposing the magnetically actuable member in a conflicting relationship for blocking movement of the part. Magnetic means is provided from without the device and juxtaposed the magnetically-actuable member for attracting or repelling the member out of the blocking relationship with the part whereby the part is free to move.

Abstract: A torque rod replacement assembly which includes ball joint assemblies, each having a projection arm, one of which telescopes into the other, weld slots being provided for permanent assembly, and graduation being provided on the telescoping parts to facilitate accurate adaptation to a vehicle being serviced.

Abstract: A torque rod replacement assembly which includes ball joint assemblies, each having a projection arm, one of which telescopes into the other, weld slots .Iadd.or windows .Iaddend.being provided for permanent assembly, and graduation being provided on the telescoping parts to facilitate accurate adaptation to a vehicle being serviced.